12 of the Very Best Things to do in Montenegro

With crystal clear water, charming coastal towns, and incredible nature, the list of things to do in Montenegro is endless. It’s one of those places that has something for everyone.

I knew I’d like Montenegro just from pictures I’d seen online. But trust me when I say it’s SO much more beautiful in real life.

I spent a week exploring Montenegro and I’ve put together this guide to 12 of the best things to do there, from exploring fairy tale villages and medieval towns to relaxing on some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.

1. Kraken underwater wine cellar

Kraken underwater wine cellar is a floating wine bar in the middle of the sea, and it’s without a doubt the coolest thing you can do in Montenegro.

The idea for the bar came from the team reading about shipwrecks where wine bottles would be found perfectly preserved at the bottom of the sea. So they used the same logic and decided to try and replicate it for themselves, by ageing wine bottles under water.

They found that the wine aged much quicker, and most importantly, tasted delicious, so they turned it into a business.

The wine is aged for 1 year, 20 metres below the surface, and you can try it for yourself by visiting their floating bar.

You’ll need to book a table in advance for this as it’s really popular. You’ll be given a 2 hour time slot where you can try the wine, enjoy local food, and and of course jump off the side to take a dip in the sea. On a clear day you’ll even be able to see the wine under the water!

2. Explore Kotor Old Town

Kotor Old Town is one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic and is a double World Heritage Site, for both cultural and natural value.

Construction began in the 6th century, but most of what you see today was built between the 9th and 14th centuries during the Venetian rule.

The town is enclosed by city walls, along with bastions, gates and towers. Inside the walls, there’s narrow streets, ancient churches and historical squares. It’s an incredible place and I’d recommend setting aside a few hours to explore it with no real agenda.

But if you do prefer to learn about the things you’re looking at, you can book a free walking tour.

Make sure you visit the rooftop at Hotel Hippocampus. I had breakfast there, and it has amazing views over the town.

A breakfast plate with crepes, jam, and a glass of orange juice sits on a cushioned bench under a striped awning. In the background, there are terracotta rooftops and lush green mountains under a clear blue sky.

A long outdoor dining table with cushioned seating sits under a beige-striped awning. The view overlooks a quaint town with red-tiled roofs and surrounding forested hills.

3. Climb the Kotor Fortress

The Kotor Fortress, also known as the San Giovanni Fortress, sits above Kotor old town and is part of its city walls.

The hike to the top of the fortress is one of the best things to do in Montenegro. It starts in Kotor old town, and you’ll need to climb 1,350 steps to reach the top.

I’d recommend starting the hike as early as possible, especially if you’re visiting during the summer months, as it’s a very exposed trail and it does get extremely hot.

Entrance costs €15, which I think is very expensive, but if you’re back down before 8am there’s nobody on the turnstiles so you can technically do it for free.

Aerial view of the San Giovanni Fortress in Kotor, Montenegro, perched on a steep hill with ancient stone walls winding up the rugged terrain. The fortress overlooks a valley with a densely packed town nestled between dramatic green mountains.

4. Explore the Lustica Peninsula

The Lustica Peninsula lies on the Western coast of Montenegro, and is known for its secluded beaches, lush green hills, crystal clear water and picturesque towns.

It’s still a relatively undiscovered part of the country, and it was so much quieter than everywhere else I visited.

Whilst you’re there you have to visit the Blue Cave, a natural sea cave with bright blue water which glows in the sunlight, and a great swimming spot. But honestly any of the beaches in this part of Montenegro have incredible water, it feels like a little slice of paradise.

Aerial view of a white lighthouse perched on a curved stone pier surrounded by turquoise waters, with a few sailboats scattered across the deep blue bay. The lush green hillside in the background contrasts with the sleek, modern harbor design.

I spent the first few nights of my trip here, and I fell in love with the area. It was absolutely stunning and so peaceful, I could have happily spent my whole week there.

I stayed at The Chedi Lustica Bay, and I can’t recommend it enough for your trip to Montenegro. There’s a great outdoor pool, a private beach, two restaurants, and the team were so incredible and couldn’t do enough to make my stay special.

5. Discover the charming village of Rose

Rose is a small fishing village on the Lustica Peninsula, and it was my favourite place in Montenegro. It’s charming and very rustic, there’s no sky rises or fancy hotels, and you can walk around it all in about 10 minutes.

Unsurprisingly there’s not much to do there, but it’s a great place to spend a few hours, swimming in the clear water and enjoying fresh seafood at one of the restaurants.

A small white boat named "Loro" floats near a peaceful waterfront village, with stone buildings and terracotta rooftops backed by tall cypress trees. In the background, mountains rise under a clear blue sky, while the foreground shows crystal-clear water and a sun-soaked stone dock with lounge chairs.

6. Visit Perast

Perast is a small fishing village about 20 minutes from Kotor that feels like a fairy tale town.

Most people only visit Perast for the day but I’d really recommend at least staying overnight, or even better, basing yourself here for a few days, which is what I did.

Aerial view of a coastal town with terracotta rooftops lining the edge of a clear blue bay, nestled against a lush green hillside. A tall stone bell tower rises from the center, surrounded by narrow streets, small boats, and waterfront cafes.

I stayed at the Heritage Grand Perast which was in the perfect location in the middle of town. It has a swimming pool right next to the sea, as well as a great restaurant and a beautiful courtyard where there’s often live music in the evenings.

Although Perast is much quieter than Kotor (which is why I loved it so much), it still has great restaurants and a lively atmosphere in the evenings.

I ate at Trattoria Rosmarino twice during my stay. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and they serve fresh seafood with views over Perast and the mountains.

I also loved Eho, which is in the middle of town, and is a slightly fancier restaurant, with delicious cocktails.

Outdoor dining area with neatly set tables covered in white linens, surrounded by cushioned chairs and greenery, in front of a historic stone building with shuttered windows and a small balcony. The warm golden hour light adds a cozy, inviting ambiance to the restaurant patio.

Small white motorboat named “Luka” anchored near the shore on calm blue water, with a softly lit waterfront dining table in the foreground and hilly green islands in the background during golden hour. The scene captures a serene, coastal dining experience.

7. Our Lady of the Rocks

Our Lady of the Rocks is a man-made island located just off the coast of Perast (you can see it from the town).

Legend has it that in the 14th century, two brothers were sailing back to Perast, and one of them had an injured leg. As they approached the town, they found an icon of the Virgin Mary and Child. They took it home with them and miraculously, the mans leg was healed the next day.

They took this is a sign and decided to build a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary on the rock where they found the icon. They dropped more rocks and stones, and even sunk old boats, until eventually they had built an island.

Even to this day, locals still uphold this tradition, and every year on July 22nd, they sail out to the island and drop more rocks into the sea.

You can take a boat from Perast to the island, they run really regularly and cost €5. Or, if you’re already doing a boat trip around the Bay of Kotor, you’ll most likely go here anyway (this is what I did).

A small island with a historic church featuring a white dome and orange-tiled roofs sits in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, surrounded by deep blue water and backed by steep, green mountains. Several boats are docked nearby, emphasizing the island's remote and scenic location.

8. Take a boat trip

One thing you absolutely have to do on your trip to Montenegro is to take a boat trip around the Bay of Kotor, a 28km coastal bay of the Adriatic sea.

My boat trip was organised by my hotel and we sailed past most of the major towns in the Bay of Kotor, as well as stopping at Our Lady of the Rocks so we could get off and have a look around, and to the Blue Cave.

View from a boat approaching a small rocky island with a historic stone fortress in the center, surrounded by deep blue sea under a cloudless sky. The boat’s metal railing frames the foreground of the image.

But the thing I found the most fascinating were the submarine tunnels. They were built during the Cold War for boats and submarines to hide inside and avoid detection. We got to go inside them as part of the tour and it was incredible to see how big they are – some of them are over 100 metres long.

Image shows a hidden, deteriorating naval tunnel entrance built into a lush, green hillside along the coast, with concrete structures and rusted metal framing partially obscured by vegetation. The tunnel sits right at the edge of the turquoise water, hinting at its former use as a submarine or military vessel shelter. — Entrance to submarine tunnels

When you’re booking your boat tour, make sure the submarine tunnels are included as part of the trip because it really was a highlight.

This boat trip stops at Our Lady of the Rocks, the submarine tunnels and the Blue Cave, and is a small group which I think is a much nicer experience.

9. Visit Dobrota

Dobrota is a small town a 10 minute drive from Kotor. A lot of people will choose to stay in Kotor and miss Dobrota entirely, but I’d really encourage you to base yourself here instead. I stayed here for one night during my trip and I absolutely loved it.

First of all, it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful. You’re looking out onto the Adriatic sea, with mountains all around you, it’s a scene straight out of a postcard. Then you have the added benefit of it being much quieter than Kotor, especially in the evenings, it’s so peaceful and the crowd feels much more local.

Stone piers curve along the edge of a calm bay, where people sunbathe near the water and a red motorboat is docked. In the background, rugged gray mountains rise sharply, adding dramatic contrast to the coastal village and lush greenery.

Dobrota’s shoreline is dotted with swimming spots, and small pebbly “beaches”. Even at 9pm, there were still children running off the piers into the water. It has a really beautiful atmosphere.

Even if you don’t stay here, please at least visit for a day. I had my favourite meal of the trip in Dobrota, at an Italian restaurant called La Ricetta. It was so good I actually drove back from Budva on my final night to eat there again.

The food is so fresh, usually locally sourced ingredients as much as possible, the owner is really friendly and spent a lot of time chatting with us and telling us about his life, and it’s located looking over the water with incredible sunset views.

White beach umbrellas and a wooden lounge chair sit on a stone pier overlooking a calm bay with coastal houses and dramatic mountain cliffs in the background. The warm evening light casts a golden glow over the scene.

Outdoor dining tables with white chairs line a waterfront deck, facing a scenic bay surrounded by lush green mountains and seaside homes. The midday sun brightens the peaceful atmosphere and clear blue water.

10. Sveti Stefan

Sveti Stefan is a town located just outside of Budva, but it’s most famous for the island, of the same name, that’s connected to the mainland by a stone pathway.

Although you can’t actually visit the island itself, you can swim in the beaches surrounding it, and it’s also a really beautiful place for sunset.

Aerial view of Sveti Stefan, a small fortified island village in Montenegro, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus with a sandy beach on both sides. The island is dotted with red-roofed buildings surrounded by turquoise waters and scattered boats, with a speedboat cruising nearby.

11. Discover Lake Skadar

Lake Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans, and is one of Montenegro’s 5 national parks. It’s a haven for wildlife, especially birds, including the rare Dalmatian pelican.

You can choose to either rent a kayak or see the lake on a boat tour, I opted for the latter because it was July when I visited and very hot, so I didn’t fancy having to do any work.

View from a boat heading across a calm lake, framed by white railings and canopy, with another boat carrying passengers visible ahead. Lush green mountains and rocky hills surround the water under a clear blue sky.

I’d really recommend booking your boat tour in advance. I turned up on the day and fell victim to a scam.

When you arrive in Virpazar, where the boats sail from, there’s a car park at the entrance to the town. Here, a group of men came up to my car and asked if I had a boat tour booked (I didn’t), and said I could park for free if I booked a tour with them.

They charged me €50 for a 2 hour boat tour, promising me it would be a small group of around 5 people. This felt like a lot of money but they were putting pressure on me to get on the boat as it was leaving soon, and it was extremely hot so I was flustered, and I ended up agreeing.

The boat tour had 15 people on it, the driver couldn’t speak English so we weren’t learning anything about the lake, and we didn’t go to any of the places they had shown me in the photos.

After doing research online I realised this was a common scam, and if I had walked into the village I would have found lots of reputable companies offering boat tours for a lot less money. I’m usually really savvy with things like that so I was really annoyed at myself for falling for it.

But one thing I am is stubborn, so when I returned I kicked up a fuss and got the majority of my money back. And now I’m telling you so you don’t make the same mistakes.

After researching online I found Kingfisher, a company that gets incredible reviews for their boat trips with English tour guides. They do get booked up in advance so I would recommend booking your tickets ahead of time.

Make sure you book your boat tickets in advance so you don’t miss out.

Despite the dodgy tour company I did still have a brilliant time on the lake, it’s absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit, just do your research!

View from a boat's shaded deck looking out toward a calm river surrounded by lush green trees under a clear blue sky. The red metal floor and railing of the boat are visible in the foreground.

Scenic view from a boat gliding through a lake filled with lily pads, with rippling water trailing behind. Green mountains rise in the background under a sunny, cloud-dotted sky, partially framed by a yellow canopy.

12. Ride the Kotor Cable Car

One of the best things to do in Montenegro is to ride on the Kotor cable car. It’s an 11 minute journey where you’ll get incredible views over the Bay of Kotor on the way to Mount Lovćen at the top.

I boarded the cable car about 1 hour before sunset which meant that the light on the journey up was a beautiful golden glow, and then I got to enjoy sunset from the top.

Cable cars suspended over a densely forested mountain, captured during golden hour with warm sunlight highlighting the greenery and the cables stretching into the distance.

Scenic view of rugged mountains and dense forest seen through a window, with warm sunlight casting reflections and highlighting the texture of the landscape.

View through a window of a cable car moving over a lush green mountainside during golden hour, with cables and support towers visible stretching across the frame.

Once you reach the top there’s lots to do. One of the main attractions is the Alpine Rollercoaster which you control yourself and you get amazing views over the Bay of Kotor. I think everyone must want to ride it at sunset as the queue was crazy when I visited so I didn’t get to go on it, but it does look like a lot of fun.

A single rider is seen on an alpine coaster track winding through rocky hills and grassy slopes, surrounded by trees on the left and golden-hour sunlight casting a warm glow over the scene. The sky is streaked with soft clouds, enhancing the serene mountain landscape. — Alpine rollercoaster

There’s also the Monte 1350 bar where everyone goes for sunset. There’s plenty of outdoor seating, so I sat and had a glass of wine here. It was the most expensive drink I had in Montenegro, but well worth it for the view.

You’ll also be right next to Lovćen National Park once you reach the top, so if you wanted to go early and make a day of it there’s lots of amazing hiking trails to explore, and you can also hire e-bikes.

Scenic sunset at a mountaintop venue with people gathered around stone terraces and outdoor seating at “Forza,” overlooking a panoramic view of the sea and distant mountains. — Monte 1350 bar

A note on Budva

You might have noticed that I haven’t included Budva on this list, and it’s with good reason. Although Budva is one of the most popular places to visit in Montenegro, I really wasn’t a fan of it.

I stayed there for 2 nights to use it as a base for Lake Skadar and Sveti Stefan, but it’s a very built up town and extremely busy. Instead, I’d recommend staying around Kotor and Perast, and taking day trips.

Montenegro Google Map

This Google Map has the locations of all the places I’ve mentioned in this post. Click on the rectangle on the right hand side to make it bigger.

More Montenegro guides:

7 Day Montenegro Itinerary: Perfect for Your First Visit